BargainAirTicket is an independent travel agency, we are not Avianca and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by Avianca. Disability, medical-device and oxygen rules are set by the airline, by the FAA and by each country, carry real consequences, and change; always confirm current requirements at avianca.com. If you'd like us to add the request to your booking and confirm it's set, our agents help for a service fee, quoted before you're charged.

Special assistance on Avianca

Wheelchairs, oxygen and medical devices each have their own Avianca rules, and one of them surprises people at the gate: Avianca does not supply oxygen in flight at all, so the only air you get is from a device you brought yourself. Here's how much notice Avianca needs, how early to arrive, and what to arrange the day you book so nothing is missed.

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    First question: airport help, or a device that needs advance approval?

    Airport wheelchair / a push to the gate

    Give Avianca at least 24 hours' notice and arrive early, 4 hours for international, 3 for domestic.

    Oxygen, a CPAP or a POC

    Avianca supplies none of it. Only your own FAA-labeled device is allowed, with 48 hours' notice to use it in flight.

    Avianca does NOT provide onboard oxygen Seat power outlets can't run a respiratory device Your POC, CPAP or VPAP needs the FAA acceptance-criteria label Wheelchair help with at least 24 hours' notice 48 hours for groups of 10+ and for flights to/from Europe No medical certificate for a disability, unless oxygen is involved

    Avianca carries no medical oxygen on any flight.

    The only oxygen on board is whatever your own FAA-approved concentrator makes, and it has to wear the FAA acceptance label or it doesn't board. No airline tank, no outlet to plug into. Sort the device out before you fly.
    When to arrange what
    When you book

    Add the assistance to the reservation and start any paperwork. This is the moment to flag a wheelchair, a mobility device, or an oxygen concentrator, CPAP or VPAP.

    At least 24 to 48 hours before

    24 hours is the minimum for wheelchair assistance. Make it 48 for a group of ten or more, for a Europe flight, or to use a respiratory device in the air.

    Day of travel

    Arrive 4 hours ahead for international, 3 for domestic when you need wheelchair service. Keep the device, its FAA label, chargers and documents in your carry-on.

    Wheelchair & mobility help

    The most common request, and the timing is stricter than people expect.

    Avianca provides wheelchair assistance through the airport for passengers with reduced mobility, from the counter to the gate, down the jet bridge, and between connecting flights. Ask for it at least 24 hours before departure, either on your booking or through Avianca, so it lands on the reservation and staff are ready. Two situations bump that to 48 hours: a group of ten or more passengers travelling with disabilities, and any flight to or from Europe. When wheelchair service is on your booking, give yourself the arrival cushion Avianca asks for, 4 hours before an international departure and 3 hours before a domestic one. That extra time matters most at the Bogotá El Dorado (BOG) hub, where a connection can mean a long walk between concourses. Travelling with your own wheelchair or mobility aid? Tell us the type and its battery so we can confirm how it has to be handled.

    Mobility-device handling, notice windows and assistance procedures are set by Avianca and can change; confirm current details at avianca.com.

    Oxygen, concentrators, CPAP and VPAP. Read this before you count on it

    The one that catches people out: there is no airline oxygen to fall back on.

    This is the biggest gotcha on the page. Avianca does not carry medical oxygen for passengers, so there is no tank to request and nothing to rent on board. If you need respiratory support in the air, it has to come from a device you bring yourself, and Avianca is specific about which devices qualify.

    No airline oxygen, and no outlet to plug into:

    Avianca supplies no in-flight medical oxygen, and the seat power outlets are not built to run a respiratory device. Plan for your equipment to run entirely on its own batteries for the whole trip.

    Only an FAA-labeled POC, CPAP or VPAP is allowed:

    You may bring your own portable oxygen concentrator, CPAP or VPAP only if it is FAA approved and displays the FAA acceptance-criteria label. If the label is not on the device, it is not allowed on board, full stop. Check for that label before you leave home.

    48 hours' notice to use it in flight:

    If you intend to use the device during the flight, tell Avianca at least 48 hours ahead so it can be cleared. Carry enough charged batteries for the full journey, since nothing on board will power it for you.

    Oxygen and respiratory-device rules are set by Avianca and the FAA and change; confirm your exact device at avianca.com or with Avianca before travel.

    Medical certificates and other conditions

    Most disabilities need no certificate, but two situations do.

    Avianca does not ask for a medical certificate just because a passenger has a disability. There are two exceptions worth knowing before the day. The first is oxygen: if you will use a respiratory device in flight, a certificate comes into play. The second is broader, when there is reasonable doubt that a passenger can complete the flight safely without extraordinary medical assistance, Avianca can require medical clearance. Recent surgery, a condition that may need attention in the air, or travelling with specialized equipment can all fall under that. Rather than risk being turned away at the gate, tell us what's involved and we'll check what Avianca needs and get it arranged, or point you to Avianca's medical-assistance process.

    Medical-clearance requirements are set by Avianca and change; confirm your specific case at avianca.com or with Avianca before travel.

    Service dogs

    Different rules from a pet, and no weight cap.

    A trained service dog is not a pet, and Avianca treats it differently. There is no weight or size cap on a service dog, the pet weight limits you see quoted online do not apply to it. What matters is the dog's training, behavior and certification. If you're travelling with one, the full requirements and paperwork live on our Avianca pets and service animals guide, and calling ahead is the safest way to make sure the dog is on the booking and nothing is missed at check-in.

    Service-animal rules are set by Avianca and by the countries on your route, and change; confirm current requirements at avianca.com before travel.

    Before you fly, the checklist

    Two minutes now prevents a scramble, or a denied boarding, later.

    • Add the request to the booking, at least 24 hours ahead, 48 for a group or a Europe flight
    • Check the FAA label on your POC, CPAP or VPAP, no label means it can't board
    • Pack enough charged batteries for the whole trip, no onboard oxygen or outlet to lean on
    • Arrive early, 4 hours for international and 3 for domestic when you need wheelchair service

    Put it on the reservation the day you book. Wheelchair help is straightforward once it's on file, but the oxygen rule leaves no room to improvise, there is no airline tank at the gate. Sorted early, the FAA label and the 48-hour notice are paperwork; left to the day, they can be a missed flight.

    Frequently asked

    Does Avianca provide oxygen on board?+
    No. Avianca does not supply medical oxygen in flight, and the seat power outlets cannot run a respiratory device. What you can do is bring your own portable oxygen concentrator, CPAP or VPAP, as long as it is FAA approved and carries the FAA acceptance-criteria label. No label, no boarding with it. If you need to actually use it during the flight, Avianca asks for at least 48 hours' notice. Call us and we will confirm your exact device before you fly.
    How much notice does Avianca need for wheelchair assistance?+
    At least 24 hours before departure for an individual request. Plan on 48 hours if you are part of a group of ten or more passengers with disabilities, or if the flight goes to or from Europe. When wheelchair service is booked, arrive 4 hours ahead for an international flight and 3 hours ahead for a domestic one so there is time to move you through the airport.
    Do I need a medical certificate to fly Avianca with a disability?+
    Usually not. Avianca does not require a medical certificate simply because a passenger has a disability. It only asks for one when you will use oxygen equipment in flight, or when there is reasonable doubt that you can complete the flight safely without extraordinary medical help. If that could apply to you, sort it out well before the day rather than at the gate. Call us and we will check what Avianca needs.
    How do I request special assistance on Avianca?+
    Add the request to the booking through avianca.com or Avianca's call center, or ask us to put it on your reservation and confirm it is set. Do it the day you book so wheelchair help, a medical device or a medical clearance is on file. For anything with a battery or an oxygen device, give the most notice you can, and 48 hours is the minimum to use a concentrator in flight.

    Contact options

    Reach Avianca directly, or let us add the request and confirm it's set.

    Contact Avianca directly

    The airline's own official channels, free.

    Websiteavianca.com
    Reservations+1 866 919 0081
    Special servicesavianca.com › Special assistance
    AppAvianca app (iOS / Android)

    These are Avianca's own channels; confirm current disability and device rules at avianca.com.

    Or let a BargainAirTicket agent do it

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    BargainAirTicket is an independent travel marketplace operated by Bookmecheapest LLC, not an airline and not a representative of Avianca or any airline. "Avianca" and related marks are trademarks of their respective owners, used here only to describe the ticketing support we offer. Disability accommodations, medical-device and oxygen rules are set by the airline, by the FAA and by each country on your route, carry real consequences, and change. Always confirm current requirements at avianca.com. We assist with bookings on any airline for a service fee, quoted before you're charged.

    Sourced from Avianca's published policy, last checked July 13, 2026. Airlines change these rules often, and we confirm current terms on every call.

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